Global Nitrous Oxide Pollution

Human emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) — a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) — increased by 30 per cent between 1980 and 2016. Observe the above image carefully and try to find out the major contributor of nitrous oxide emission in the Global N2O Budget. What is Nitrous oxide? Nitrous… Continue reading

[pib] SVAMITVA Scheme

Our PM has launched the physical distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme. Try this MCQ: Q.The SVAMITVA Scheme sometimes seen in news is related to: Urban Employment/ Land records management/ Child Adoption/ None of these About SVAMITVA SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas. Under the… Continue reading

[pib] Calcium Nitrate and Boronated Calcium Nitrate

Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has launched an indigenous variety of fertilizers- ‘Calcium Nitrate’ & ‘Boronated Calcium Nitrate’. Try this PYQ: Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture? (a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms (b) Neem coating slows… Continue reading

Anti Radiation Missile: RudraM-I

A New Generation Anti Radiation Missile (NGARM), RudraM-I, was successfully flight-tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Try this MCQ: Q.The RudraM-I recently seen in news is an: Ans: Anti-satellite missile/ Anti-radiation Missile/ Anti-tank mine/ Submarine Torpedo RudraM-I RudraM-I is an anti-radiation missile can locate and target any radiation-emitting source like enemy radars,… Continue reading

What is World Food Programme?

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Programme (WFP) for feeding millions of people from Yemen to North Korea, with the coronavirus pandemic seen pushing millions more into hunger. Tap here to read more about Nobel Prizes here at: Nobel and other Prizes World Food Programme The WFP is the food-assistance branch… Continue reading

3 contenders for National Butterfly Status

A citizen poll to identify the national butterfly concluded with three species garnering the highest number of votes. Try this PYQ: Q.With reference to India’s Biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are- (a) Birds (b) Primates (c) Reptiles (d) Amphibians Which are the three species? (1) Indian Jezebel Blessed with a… Continue reading

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)

The article highlights the importance of CAG in times of disasters to ensure check and balances. Context With the nation spending substantial resources to manage the pandemic, the role of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has come into prominence. Opportunity for corruption in pandemic Allegations of siphoning off of funds to purchase the… Continue reading

Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill needs a thorough review

There are several issues with the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill and these issues need consideration before the passage of the Bill. What the Bill aims to achieve Union Health Minister introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 (Bill) in the Lok Sabha. Its aim is to regulate ART banks and clinics, allow safe and… Continue reading

Television Rating Points (TRP) System and its loopholes

Mumbai police are investigating the alleged manipulation of Television Rating Points (TRP) by an extremely right-wing opinionated news reporter. Try this question: Q.What do you mean by “TRP Journalism”? Discuss the loopholes in the present system of self-regulation in Indian media. What is TRP? In simple terms, anyone who watches television for more than a… Continue reading

Is Indian economy going through stagflation

The article analyses the challenge faced by the Monetary Policy Committee in wake of a pandemic where falling growth is accompanied by the rising inflation. Dilemma with inflation targetting in pandemic After the RBI’s adoption of a flexible inflation targeting framework from August 2020, it became even more focused on anchoring inflation and inflation expectations… Continue reading

Provisions for platform workers in the labour code and issues with them

The article examines the provision made for the platform workers and the gig workers in the labour codes passed by the Parliament recently and explains the issues with it. Context The three new labour codes passed by Parliament recently acknowledge platform and gig workers as new occupational categories in the making. Definition issue The specific… Continue reading

Right to Protest

The Supreme Court has found the indefinite “occupation” of a public road by the Shaheen Bagh protestors unacceptable. Right to Protest The right to protest is the manifestation of the right to freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, and the right to freedom of speech. The Constitution of India provides the right… Continue reading

Nobel Prize in Chemistry for CRISPR Technology

French-American duo Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna have been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize for the chemistry of CRISPR, which allows scientists to ‘cut-paste’ inside a genetic sequence. Try this PYQ: Q.What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? (a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing (b) A biosensor used in… Continue reading

[pib] Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

The Union Cabinet has approved the Ratification of seven chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Stockholm Convention It is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs, which are identified chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in living organisms, adversely affect human health/ environment and… Continue reading

‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ Movement

Sardar Ajit Singh Sandhu, the brain behind the ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ movement is now being remembered in the ongoing agrarian resentments in Punjab. Try this PYQ: Q.What was the immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi movement? (a) The partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon. (b) A sentence of 18 months rigorous imprisonment… Continue reading

Physics Nobel for discoveries about Black Holes

Three scientists won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics for advancing our understanding of black holes, the all-consuming monsters that lurk in the darkest parts of the universe. Try this PYQ: Q.Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation? (a) ‘Higgs… Continue reading

Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) System

DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of its Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system. Try this MCQ: Q.The SMART system recently tested by the DRDO is essentially a- a)Radar b)Torpedo c)UAV d)Missile What is the SMART system? Torpedoes are self-propelled weapons that travel underwater to hit a target but are limited by their… Continue reading

GST Council and its Functioning

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has failed to iron out differences between some States and the Centre over the plan to get States to borrow from the market to meet the shortfall in compensation cess collections this year. Try this question from CSP 2018: Q.Consider the following items: Cereal grains hulled Chicken eggs… Continue reading

2020 Nobel for Hepatitis C Virus discovery

Americans Harvey J Alter and Charles M Rice, and British scientist Michael Houghton were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology on Monday for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Try this PYQ: Q.Which one of the following statements is not correct? (CSP 2019) (a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.… Continue reading

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